Operating mechanism for washing-machines.



W. H. SARGENT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.25. I915.

a SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Oct. 9,1917.

W. H. SARGENT. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. 1915.

1,242 Patefited 00. 9,1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. H. SARGENT. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. 19l5- 1,2&2,727. Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- W. H. SARGENT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1915.

12%;??? Patented 001;. 9,1917.

, 6 SHEETS-$HEET 4-. "z 5. 5L

W. H. SARGENT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOB WASHING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED SIEPT. 25,4915.

1%,77; 1 Patented Oct. 9,1917.

w. H. SARGENT. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1915.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

6 SHEETSSHF ET' 6.

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WILLIAM H. SARGENT, or s'r. LOUIS, nrssooar, AssIe oit' ro HAY-NE MANurAo- TUBING COMPANY, or sr. LOUIS, ivrrssouiar, ACOR'PGRATION or MIssoUn'I;

ornRA'rI or MECHANISM roe wasrirNG-MrieHI-Nns- 1 7 Specificatioirof Letters Patent. Patented Get. '9, 1%1'7.

Application filed. September 25, i915. Serial No. 52,614.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. SARGENT, a citizen of the United States, residingat the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Operating Mechanism for Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification. F

This invention relates to improvements in operating mechanism for washing machines and consists in the novel design, arrange ment and combination of the various parts and elements hereinafter more fully disclosed.

An object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism preferably actuated by a power lever which will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction and adapted in its specific embodiment for operating a washing machine of the pounder type whereby the pounder is reoiprocated vertically, a rotary movement being imparted to the pounder substantially at the end of each reciprocation. of the pounder shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide operating mechanism of the class .described whereby the pounder shaft may be reciprocated vertically and given a rotary turn at a point substantially at the limit of the downward stroke effecting a rubbing operation of the clothes disposed between the pounder and the bottom of the tub, all of which is accomplished by application of a small amount of power to a power lever.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple operating mechanism for imparting a reciprocating rotary and vertical motion to the pounder shaft mounted upon a hinged support.

With the foregoing ends, as well as additional advantages and features, in view I have designed, combined and arranged the various parts and elements as hereinafter more fully disclosed and specifically pointed out in the appended claims reference being made in the course of the description to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a washing machine illustrating an embodiment of the operating mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a washing machine in which the operating mechanism of the present invention' is embodied.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the tub of the washing machine, viewing the oper- Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the operating mechanism, a portion .of the power lever, connecting pitman and housing for the gearingbeing shown in cross section.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the operating mechanism, certain parts being removed or cut through to show more clearly the arrangement of the parts.

Fig.6 is'a vertical section through-the operating connection between the power shaft and the pounder shaft. E'g. Q7 is-a plan view of a modified embodiment of the operating mechanism of the present invention, a portion of the. gear casing being cut through and including, over the preferred embodiment, an additional .speed increasing gear.

Fig.8 is a side-elevation of the'modified form of the operating mechanism' of the present invention- Fig. 9 is an end elevation, a portion of the gear casing removed, of a modified embodiment of the present invention.

7 Fig-.-10'is asection through the tub of the washing machine showingaside elevation of the operating mechanism of the modified formviewed from a point opposite the illustration'thereof-in Fig. 8.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the tub 1 is mounted upon supports or legs 2, the bottom and side walls of the tub being corrugated interiorly as is usual in washing machines of this type. The tub is formed with a hinged cover 3.

The cover 3 is provided with an opening substantially at the center thereof to accommodate the pounder shaft 4 which extends ;th'erethrou-gl1- and upon the lower extremlty of which is'mounted a pounder 5 of familiar and known construction. The pounder 5 in order to increase its efficiency for agitating the clothes isjprovided' with a series of removable wings? 6. I

A bracket 7 is mountedon the upper face of the cover, which bracket is designed to supportthe entire operating mechanism as well as to constitute a guide way for the shaft At. A yoke pieceS which is an integral part of the bracket 7 is provided at its extremities with eyes 9 which arein axial alinement with the opening through the cover 3, the shaft l extending therethrough and beguided and supported from lateral disthereby.

ii power shaft extends at right angles to the shaft 4 and is revolubly journaled in a bearing 11 formed integral with the yoke piece 8 and a bearing 12 formed in the upper portion of a standard 13 formed integral with the bracket 7, respectively. The 10 carries a crank arm 14 at its inner end, said crank arm being attached to a rack 15 by a pin 16. The rack 15 is mounted in a housing comprising horzontal plates 17 and a vertical end plate 18. The rack 15 has vertical flanges 1919' which operate in formed in the plates 17. A bifurgro ves rated clevis 20, having axial openings therein through which the shaft 4 extends, is formed integral with the plate 19 of the housing. A segmental rack 21 has a hub 22 thr ugh which the shaft 45 extends. The rack 21 is adjust-ably secured to the shaft 4; by a set screw mounted in the hub 22. The rack 21 is disposed between the two leaves of the clevis 20, said rack extending through a slot 2% in the plate 18 and meshinn wdh the rack The construction just described is best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

The vertical plate 18 bears against a face of an oblong member 25 formed integral with the bracket 7 and supported transversely of the yoke 8, thereby supporting the housing and causing the same to operate without vibration.

It is preferable to provide a shield or guard which in the embodiment shown is in the form of a semicylindrical grid attached by suitable binding devices to the member 25. The guard 26 prevents the clothes being placed in or taken from the tub from becoming engaged with the segmental rack 2i, and also prevents injury to the operator.

The power shaft extends through the hearing 12 to the outer edge of the top of the machine and, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, has a gear wheel 27 attached thereto. lhe gear wheel 27 is preferably of the open spoke type and is oper atively connected by an eccentrically attached pitman 28 to a power lever 29 which is fulcrumed at its lower end to a bracket 30 mounted on the cover 3 of the machine A balance wheel 31 mounted upon a shaft 32, which is journaled in a bearing portion 33 of the bracket 7, is operatively connected rith the gear wheel 27 by a pinion 8-4: rigid on the shaft The gear 27 is guarded by a gear housing 35 to prevent the accidental entanglement of clothes being placed in or removed from the tub, or injury to the operator.

The embodiment of the invention shown ing in mesh with the pinion 3d of the balance wheel 31 arranged as above described.

ln this embodiment power is applied from the power lever 29, through the pitman to the gear 07, the gear 37 in turn driving the gear 36 on the power shaft at increased. speed. This construction while the same in principle permits the acceleration of the operation of the power shaft and is pre ferred where a high speed machine is de sired.

From the foregoing itwill be understood that the operation of a washing machine embodying the present invention resu ts in a new mode of treatment of the clothes in cleansing operations. As the power shaft 10 is continuously rotated by the operation of the power lever through the power conneotion described, the crank arm 14 will re ciprocate the rack 15 and also rai e and lower the rack housing which is operatively connected to the pounder shaft. [is the rack 15 slides laterally at the upper and lower arc of the cycle described by the crank arm, a rotary movement is imparted to the pounder shaft substantially at the end of the up and down stroke of the shaft. Thus, in addition to the agitation of the clothes effected through the vertical movement of the pounder, when the pounder has descended nearly to the limit of its downward stroke a rotary turn or twist will be imparted to the clothes disposed beneath the pounder, elfecting a rubbing action against the bottom and sides of the tub. As the pounder shaft is adjustable vertically it may be selectively adjusted to accommodate it to different loads of clothes to regulate the extent of the rubbing action thereon. The rubbing action will also be effected upon the up stroke of the pounder as reciprocation in a rotary direction occurs near the en'dof both the up and down stroke of the pounder, as above explained.

In practice the interrupted rotary motion developed by the mechanism of the present invention has been found to attain results which are superior to the results obtained by the forms of driving mechanism in which the rotary movement is substantially continuous throughout the vertically reciprocating strokeof the pounder, in that the rubbing action of the pounder is greater and for the further reason that the wrapping of the clothes around the pounder is to a large degree prevented. A machine, therefore, embodying the present invention is more etiicieut in cleansing the clothes and can be newly/27 operated with greater facility inasmuch as it is unnecessary to interrupt;the-operation ofwashing foruthe purpose of disengaging the clothes which become entangled with the pounder in such machines as-employ averticalreciprocation in combination with a.=uni-; form rotary movement ofzthe pounder,

I; am aware that the principle of i the present invention maybe-embodied in other modified: forms and thatidetailsin construe? tion and design may be changed without in the least departing from the spiritiand scope of the invention as-set forthin the appended claims. I- do not desire to limit. myself therefore to the exact. construction shown and described, but what Iclaim and'desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1-1 11 an operatinginechanismfor washing machines, the combination'with asupport, of a vertical shaft mounted in said support for axial and rocking movements, a power shaft journaled at right angles to the vertical shaft, drying 'mechanism for the power shaft, a: crank attached tothepower shaft, and an intermeshi-ng gear and rack wholly supported by the vertical shaft engaged'and operated by the crank for moving the vertical shaft axially and rocking the vertical shaft" near each end of its axial movement. 1

2. In an operating mechanismfor washing machines, the combination with ahinged support, of a shaft mounted in the support for axial androcking movements, a power shaft journaled at right angles to the "81 tical shaft on said hinged support, driving mechanism for said power shaft carried by the hinged support, a crank attached to the power shaft, and intermeshing gear and rack elements wholly supported by the ver tical shaft connecting said crank and the vertical shaft for imparting axial and rocking movements to said vertical shaft by'rotatien of said power shaft in one direction.

In an operating mechanism for wash ing machines, the combination with a support, of a vertical shaft mounted in said support for axial and rocking movements, a

power shaft carried by said support, manually operable driving mechanism for said power shaft, a crank attached to said power shaft, a housing attached to the vertical shaft, a rack mounted in said housing and engaged by said crank, and a gear attached to the vertical shaft meshing with the rack.

4. In an operating mechanism for washing machines, the combination of a hinged support, a bracket carried by said support, a vertical shaft extending through said sup port and journaled in said bracket for axial and rocking movements, a power shaft car ried by said support, manual mechanism for rotating said power shaft, a balance wheel entrained with said power shaft, a crank attached to said power shaft, a rack engaged by saidcrank, a gear on the vertical shaftin mesh with saidrack,and a support for 'said' rack attached to said vertical shaft:

I'nan operating mechanism for washing machines, a stationary support a. sup port hinged-to said: stationary support, a vertical shaftacarriedaby said hinged support for axial and'rocking movements a power shaft carried by said hinged support, a. lever pivoted'tosaid hinged support; a gear wheelattached to said power shaft, :an additionalv gear wheel in meslrwith the one on the power shaft,a rod connectingtthe additional gear wheel with saidlever, a'small pinion; inmesh with said additional gear wheel, a balance-wheel in connection with said pinion, a crank arm I attached to the power shaft, a rack connected to-said crank arm, a support on said: vertical. shaft-in which said rack is carried for movement' to the vertical shaft in mesh with said rack.

6; lean operating mechanism for washing machines, the combination of'a stationary support having-a horizontal -wall,-a support hinged to thestationary support 'ab ove the horizontal wall, a vertical shaft: extendingthrough-said hinged support, bearings in which said shaft is mounted for axial-and rockingmovements, a power shaft, manual mechanism for rotatingsaid power shaft, a balance wheel entrainedwith said mechanism, a crank attached to said power shaft, and intermeshing "gear and" rack devices wholly supported bythe vertical shaft actuated-by the movement of said crank for moving said vertical shaft axially and rocking said vertical shaft in said bearings.

7; ln an operating mechanism for washing machines, the combination with a hinged support, a vertical shaft mounted in said hinged support, a power shaft carried by said hinged support and disposed at right angles to said vertical shaft and spaced therefrom, and a connection between said power shaft and said vertical shaft comprising a housing adjustably and releasably at tached to said vertical shaft, a reciprocating rack in said housing, and a gear segment within said housing in mesh with said reciprocating rack, substantially as specified.

8. In an operating mechanism for washing machines, the combination with a hinged support, a vertical shaft mounted in said hinged support, guides for supporting said vertical shaft in alinement, a power shaft journaled in ,a bracket and carried by said hinged support, driving mechanism for said power shaft for imparting a continuous rotary motion thereto, a member longitudinally adjustable of said vertical shaft, a guide bracket forlsaid member, a gear segment secured to said vertical shaft within said member, a reciprocating rack in said member in mesh with said gear segment, and

a crank arm attached to said reciprocating rack and driven by said power shaft, sub stantially as specified.

9. The combination with a support, of a horizontal power shaft carried by said support, a. lever pivoted to said support, connections actuated by said lever for rotating said power shaft, a balance wheel entrained with said connections, a shaft carried by said support at right angles to said power shaft for axial and rocking movements, a crank arm attached to said power shaft, a rack engaged by said crank arm, asupport connected to said second-mentioned shaft in which said rack is mounted, and a gear at tached to said second-mentioned shaft in mesh with said rack.

10. In an operating mechanism for washing machines, the combination with a power shaft and driving mechanism for imparting a continuous rotary movement thereto, of a vertical shaft at right angles to the power shaft, a crank arm attached to the power shaft, a gear attached to the vertical shaft and movable axially therewith, and a rack engaged and operated by said crank and meshing with said gear for imparting axial and rocking movements to said vertical shaft.

11. The combination with a support, of a horizontal power shaft carried by the support, a lever pivoted to the support, connections actuated by the lever for rotating the power shaft, abalance wheel entrained with said connections, a shaft carried by the 2 support at right angles to the power shaft for axial and rocking movements, a crank attached to the power shaft, a rack engaged by said crank, a housing connected to said second mentioned shaft supporting said rack, a gear attached to the second mentioned shaft in mesh with said rack, and a device for guiding said housing in a vertical plane during the axial and rocking movements of said second mentioned shaft.

12. In an operating mechanism for washing machines, the combination with a power shaft and driving mechanism for imparting a continuous rotary movement thereto, of a vertical shaft at right angles to the power shaft, a crank arm attached to the power shaft, a gear attached to the vertical shaft and movable axially therewith, a rack engaged by said crank meshing with said gear for imparting rocking movements to said vertical shaft, and a housing carried by said vertical shaft for supporting said rack.

In witness whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM H. SARGENI.

Witnesses L. C. KINGsLAND, N. G. BUTLER.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

